Cards aim for five in a row

Eastbourne Borough v Woking
3pm on Saturday 24 March 2012

The Cards will be looking for their fifth successive win when they travel to Priory Lane on Saturday – and, with Dartford continuing to chase them hard, they can’t afford to slip up in their pursuit of the title.

WOKING

Tuesday night’s 3-0 win at Weston-super-Mare was further confirmation that Garry Hill’s side have recovered from the indifferent form that marked the early part of 2012. It was just as well that the Cards grabbed the three points since the Darts made light of the visit of fourth-placed Sutton United, crushing their visitors 6-1. The results meant that the Cards remain eight points clear of Dartford, who have a game in hand, however.

Once again it was Gez Sole making the headlines for the Cards, with two more goals bringing his total to seven goals in five starts since his return from his loan spell at Basingstoke Town. But the match also marked Kevin Betsy’s first goal since rejoining the Club.

On a less happy note, Adam Doyle picked up his 15th yellow card, meaning that a three-match suspension will begin in two weeks’ time. Cards fans will wait anxiously too for news of skipper Adam Newton, who went off injured. Newton has probably been the most consistent player throughout the season and would be bound to be missed. But Garry Hill has strengthened his defensive cover already with the loan signing of the highly experienced Glenn Wilson from Crawley Town and the return of Mike Cestor for his third loan spell from Leyton Orient. Both players are on the books till Woking’s last league game of the season on 28 April.

Dale Binns will be serving the last game of his three-match suspension on Saturday.

EASTBOURNE BOROUGH

The Sports have had a very disappointing season, parting company with long-serving manager Garry Wilson in January after a very poor run of results. Tommy Widdrington, the former Salisbury City and Hemel Hempstead manager, was appointed as his successor. Eastbourne now sit in 17th place in the league, only four points above the relegation zone.

But the Cards need to beware: the Sports’ form has improved since Widdrington’s arrival, with recent away wins at Truro City and, last Saturday, at Staines Town and draws, home and away, against Sutton United.

Striker Carl Rook has left the club by mutual consent but Widdrington has just signed Charles Ademeno on loan from AFC Wimbledon. Ademeno was formerly with Crawley Town amongst a number of other clubs. Defender Alex Lacey is on loan from Luton Town and keeper Mitchell Walker has recently arrived from Brighton and Hove Albion, with Rikki Banks going on loan to Hendon.

Up front the experienced Gary Hart and top scorer Ben Watson present a serious threat, along with the ever-green Matt Crabb.

GETTING THERE

Langney Sports Club
Priory Lane
Eastbourne
Sussex
BN23 7QH
Website
http://www.eastbourneboroughfc.co.uk

By Coach

Departs: 12noon
Members: £15
Non-Members: £20
Phone or email the Club Shop on 01483 772470 or shop@wokingfc.co.uk to book your place. Places are limited so don’t delay.

By Car

From the M23/A23 join the A27 just before Brighton, going East towards Lewes. Pass through five roundabouts, remaining on the A27. At roundabout take second exit onto A22, straight over next roundabout, then first exit onto Willingdon Drove. You'll reach two roundabouts next to each other. At the second roundabout take the first exit onto Langney Rise / B2104. After half a mile take third exit at roundabout onto Priory Road, then turn left onto Priory Lane.
There is ample parking at the ground.

By Train

Nearest station: Pevensey & Westham

Journey time is around 2 hours from Woking.

You need to get to Clapham Junction, where trains leave at 23 and 53 minutes past the hour. The former involves an additional change at Hampden Park. So, the 12.23 from Clapham arrives at Hampden Park at 13.39, where you can pick up the 13.44 to Pevensey and Westham, arriving at 13.49. The 12.53 from Clapham Junction gets into Pevensey and Westham at 14.28.

The ground is a 15-20 minute walk from the train station. Look up the route on www.streetmap.co.uk
Trains back are at 15 and 48 minutes past the hour, with the latter involving a change at Hampden Park.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £12
Concessions: £8
U16s: £1

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 3 Eastbourne Borough 1
10 September 2011

The Cards bounced back from their defeat at Welling United with this win over Eastbourne Borough. Cards fans were mightily relieved to see Garry Hill in the dugout following a health scare during Thursday night’s training session.

The first half of this match no doubt aided Garry’s recovery as the Cards eased into a 2-0 win but, as has happened fairly often this season, his side found it hard to wrap up the game and the second half became nerve-wracking at times.

‘Man of the match’ Paris Cowan-Hall got the Cards off to a perfect start in the 6th minute with a superb lob from 35 yards after spotting the Sports keeper off his line. With Moses Ademola also looking lively, the Cards seemed destined to add a second and eventually did so in the 23rd minute thanks to a goalkeeping error. Banks failed to hold a high ball and Moses had the simple task of nodding it into the net.

Borough always carried a threat, especially from crosses swung in, but Elvis Hammond and Moses had chances to add to Woking’s lead before half-time.

The Cards conceded immediately after the break, Elphick heading in a free-kick, and the visitors went on to dominate most of the second half. Garry Hill brought on Wayne Gray and Gez Sole for Hammond and Dale Binns but Eastbourne still made most of the running. The Cards had Andy Little to thank for preserving their lead as he foiled an attacker in a one-on-one challenge and, later, pushed a shot onto the bar.

Gez Sole was unlucky to see a free-kick cannon off the inside of the post and roll across the line before being cleared. In the 90th minute the Cards finally made the game safe as Sole was barged over in the box and Jack King converted the spot kick.


Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Don’t forget that the Cards are at home next Saturday, 31 March, against Thurrock. Only three more home games to go, so make sure you make your way to Kingfield for the end-of-season run-in!